Combination propagator, incubator, and brooder



Feb. 14, 1950 G. H. WADE, sR

COIABIlXLTIOl! PROPAGATQR, INCUBATOR, AND BROQDER Filed May 2, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l y I ure/1to1 6in/PGE /z ma DE, 51e.

A tto rneys Feb. 14, 1950 v4 Gpl-l, WADE, sR

COMBINATION PROPAGATOR, INUBATOR, AND BROODER Filed May 2, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J m r L mi.. s M M .w K 6 M 4 M m 6 M Z W l MJ Patented Feb. 14, 1950 COMBINATION PROPAGATOR, INCUBATOR,

' BROODER George H. Wade, sr., Manviue, N. J.

Application May 2, 1947, Serial No. 745,675 3 Claims. (Cl. 47-19) This invention relates to a device capable of being used for propagating young plants, as an `incubator or as a brooder for young poultry and it is a primary object of the invention to provide -a unique construction of housing or casing which [readily adapts itself to the various aforemen.

tioned uses to thereby eliminate the necessity of having separate devices for each function.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a housing or enclosure which `is so constructed and arranged that various elements may be demountably contained thereon `for adapting the structure for use as an incubator,

propagator or brooder. I

Numerous other objects and advantages of th invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawcated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section and partly broken away and showing the structure assembled for use as an incubator;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view thereof taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

rFigure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional -view showing the structure assembled for use as `a brooder, and l Figure '7 is a fragmentary cross sectional view thereof taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 1-1 of Figure 6.

1 Referring more specifically to the drawings,

the improved housing or enclosure in its entirety 'and constituting the invention is designated generally 8 and comprises a lower section 9 and an upper section I0.

The section 9 constitutes an elongated, substantially rectangular frame which is relatively deep and which is formed by substantially corresponding side walls II and end walls I2. The lower housing section 9 is provided with an internal beading or rib I3 which is shown as extending therearound, intermediate of its top and bottom and preferably closer to the bottom than to the 'top thereof, and which at least extends along the side walls II. The lower section 9 is provided with a hinged leg I4, adjacent each Icorner thereof and at its bottom, each of said legs :being connected by a hinge I5 to one of the end walls I2. The hinges I5 are located on the inner sides of the end walls I2 and are of the leaf type -andfhave barrel portions disposed along the bot'- tom edges of said end walls and each includes a leaf connected to the upper end of a leg I4, so that the legs I4 may be swung from a folded posih tion within and substantially parallel to the bottom of the section 9 through an arc of approximately 180 to an outwardly extending position, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1, all for a purpose whichwill hereinafter become apparent. A strip IB of a relatively rigid material is secured around the outer side of the lower closure section 9 and has an upper edge portion projecting above the upper edge thereof and forming a retaining flange, for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

The upper enclosure section I0 is of substantially the same length and width as the lower section 9 and also comprises side walls I1 and end walls I8, and is provided with an internal beading or rib I9 extending therearound neary the upper edge thereof and forming a support for a transparent cover 20, which is preferably formed by a pane of glass. A retaining bead 2I is secured internally of the side and end walls I1 and I 8, above the cover 20, for retaining the latter in its position of Figures 1 and 2. One or more pilot lamp bulbs are preferably mounted within the section I0 and supported by the beading I9, as indicated at 22. The section I 0 is likewise pro'- vided with -legs 23 at the corners of the bottom edges thereof and which are mounted on hinges 24 in the same manner and for the samepurpose as the legs I4 and which are shown in Figures l and 2 folded into the section Ill.

It will be readily apparent that the section Il) could be applied to the section 9 in superimposed relationship thereon with the legs 23 folded and that the upper portion or flange of the strip IB will function as a retaining flange for holding the sections in superimposed relationship, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. For use of the enclosure 8 as a plant propagator, before the upper section I 0 is applied to the lower section 9, a tray contain-- ing sand or`soil is inserted into the section!! through the top thereof.- Said tray, as seen in Figures 1 and 2 and designated 25 is provided with side and end walls which fit relatively snug against the inner sides of the side and end walls II and I2 and which may be provided at their upper edges with iianges for engagement with the upper edges of the walls I I and I2. The bottom of the tray 25 is provided on its underside vportion of the tray 26, is shown in Figurel con.-

taining a plurality of plants 28 which extend upwardly therefrom.

A combination liquid level indicatonlling and draining attachment, designated generally 29 is shown in Figure 1 and includes a relatively large section of tubing or pipe 30 having a flared open upper end 3| and a transparent longitudinally extending window 32. Two lateral pipes 33 and 34 extend from the pipe 30 through an end wall I2 and into the tray 25 through an rend wall thereof. The upper pipe 33 is disposed preferably above the level of the sand or soil 21 and the lower pipe 34 is disposed adjacent the bottom of the tray 25. The pipe 30 is provided with a bottom which is closed except for a drain valve 35. According- 1y",v it will be readily apparent that water may be supplied to the tray th-rough thel open upper end 3.1.v ofthe member 29 and will' flow therefrom through the pipe *S3-for moistening the sand or soil 2l. The water will also flow either to or from the tray 25 through the pipe 34 so as to maintain the level of the water within the tray and within the pipe 39 substantially uniform, so that the liquid level in the sand or soil 27 will be indicated through the window 32 where the liquid level within the pipe 39 can be observed. An excess of liquid within the tray 25 may be drained by opening the drain valve 35 and when additional water is required, the tray 25 may be refilled through the filling opening 3l.

A conventional heating unit 39 of any conventional construction, preferably including a thermostat 31 is adapted to be detachably mounted in theA lower part of the enclosure section 9 and is of a size and shape to fit relatively7 snug therein to'aford a substantial closure for the open bottom` of the section 9. The pilot lamps 22 are adapted to be utilized in a conventional manner for indicating the operation of the heating unit 364 and may be connected thereto in any conventional manner and said heating unitkmay likewise be connected to a source of electric current in any conventional manner. To apply the heating unit 36, each of the legs i4 is swung outwardly to its dotted line position of Figure l to suiciently expose the bottom of the section 9' to permit insertion ofthe heating unit 36 therein. The I'e'gs I4 are then swung downwardly to their substanti'ally perpendicular positions as seen in Figures l and 2 and so that the corners of the heating unit 35 will rest on the upper ends 'of the legs 1'4, as clearly illustrated in Figures l and 3, to thereby demountably support the heating unit in its positions of Figuresl 1 and 2L Thus, thelegs I'4 function not only to support the enclosure in an' elevated position with respectV to a supporting surface but also act to demountably 'retain the heating unit 36 within the enclosure and in a position so that said heating unit will substantially close the open bottom thereof,

The use of the enclosure 8 as an incubator, is substantially identical with its use as a plant propagator. In Figure 4 it will be noted that the enclosure 8 is shown employed as an incubator andl contains the tray 25 which contains a relatively thick layer of sand 26 in the bottom thereof onv which rests a relatively large egg separator 38 which mayv be of'. any conventional construction and each of the cells of which is adapted to contain an egg 39 to be hatched and so that the individual eggs 39 rest on the sand 36 which is moistened in any desired manner, as byr use of the-v attachmentV 29not shown in Figure 4. The

heat from the heating unit 36. will maintain the moistened sand 36 in a heated condition. for

4 hatching the eggs 39 resting thereon, and it will thus be readily apparent that the enclosure 8 is readily adapted for use either as a plant propagator or as an incubator..

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the use of the structure as a brooder and wherein only the upper section lll thereof is utilized. The legs 23 of the upper section l0 function in the same manner, as previously described, with respect to the legs 1 I4, for demountably supporting the heat unit 3S within said upper section. A iiexible curtain or apron 40 is fastened around the lower portion of the section I9 and depends therefrom to rest upon the supporting surface of the legs 23 to provide an enclosure through which baby chicks, as indicated in Figures 6 and '7, may readily enter or leave the brooder and which will also function. to retain the heat from the heating unit 36'from escaping from beneath the section I9.

Various modiiications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope cf the invention as hereinafter deiined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a combination incubator, plant propagator and brooder of the character described, an enclosure provided with a closed top and an-open bottom, a plurality of legs, hinges connected to the inner side of the enclosure adjacent the. open bottom thereof and to the upper ends of the legs to permit outward swinging movement of the legs to positions for substantially completely exposing said open bottom, and a demountable heating unit removably mounted in the open bottom of said enclosure for heating the interior thereof, said legs being movable to substantially upright positions beneath the open bottom of the enclosure and engaging under and supporting the heating unit in the enclosure and for supporting said enclosure in an elevated position relatively to asupporting surface engaged by said legs.

2. A structure as in claim 1, a tray demountably supported in said enclosure above the heating unit and adapted to contain sand or soil for growing plants, said tray being heated by said heating unit, and said heating unit substantially iilling and closing the open bottom of f the enclosure beneath the tray.

3. A structure as in claim 1, a trayv demountably supported in said enclosure above the heating unit and adapted to contain sand or soil vfor growing plants, said tray being heated by said heatingunit, said enclosure being formed of separable, superimposed upper and lower sections, and means for demountably supporting the tray' in tthe upper portion of the lower section, said. tray being, applied to or removed from the lower sec'- tion through the open top thereof. when the upper section is removed.

GEORGE H. WADE, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Umfren etarrasr PATENTS Number Name vDate 505,676 Shaub Sept. 26, 1893 901,153 Clodi Oct. 13, 1908 1,581,857 Morison Apr. 20, 1926 2,019,467 Graves Oct. 29, 1935 2,296,544 Stewart Sept'422, `194.2

2,296,860 Martin" Sept. 29,1942 

